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[nsd_user663_55597]

Hi gang!

New here, just stopped smoking yesterday. Smoked 20 per day for the last 13 years. I've been thinking of stopping on and off for a while now, but never have a strong enough desire to give it up. The longest I gave up for before is 3 months and I still kick myself for going back to it.

The reason I have stopped smoking now? I have flu, sore throat etc. The good thing is I dont even want a cig at the moment, but I know its going to get a lot (MUCH) harder once I'm feeling better.

Good luck to all giving up!

[nsd_user663_20558]

Hi Craig, welcome to the site.

A spur of the moment quit can work just as well as a planned one. I stopped smoking when I had the flu, and I'm now two years down the line. Yes, it does get harder when you get better, but on the bright side you'll be pretty much nicotene free by the time you're recovered, and you'll be able to focus all your energies on the psychological readjustment.

This forum was the difference for me, and has been for lots of people, so stick around.

Hope you feel better soon!

Helen

[nsd_user663_55597]

Hi Helen,

Thanks for the reply. Its good to know that you managed to quit for good due to illness and congrats on the 2 years smoke free! It will be nice to be nicotine free by the time I've recovered

Its nice of you to stick around these forums even though you quit so long ago. Do you still get cravings? How did you get through tough days? How long after you stopped would you say it became 'easy'?

[nsd_user663_53437]

Hi Craig, I stopped suur of the moment too! Am now Im just about to celebrate my 4 monathaversary!

Well done so far and here's to your final quit!!

Marie

[nsd_user663_55597]

Wow congrats! 4 months is excellent! Lets hope I can make it that long

[nsd_user663_20558]

Hi Craig,

A wise person on this forum once said 'quitting is a process, not an event'. And as such, it doesn't really stick to a schedule and everyone is different. What I can say with confidence is the longer you stick with it, the easier it gets.

To my mind it's all about mental reprogramming: you've spent years and years teaching your brain to prompt you to smoke in any given situation or mood - as comfort, as reward, as stimulant when you're bored, whatever. Each time you encounter that situation or mood after quitting, your brain fires up and demands a cig, and you have to say no to it. Your brain quickly learns, after kicking off a few times, not to prompt you any more. At first EVERYTHING is a prompt which is why it can feel so overwhelming. As time goes by, new triggers are fewer and further between, so it becomes much easier to cope with.

For me it was pretty tough for the first three months, then there were intermittent bad days here and there for a few months. By six months I'd really turned a corner. Once round the sun and it was all behind me I don't get cravings any more at all, just occasional memories/thoughts which are easily dismissed, and no desire to smoke at all. Wouldn't have a fag now if you gave me a million quid. And I NEVER thought I'd say that.

I stick around here because long term quitters were a huge help to me when I started, and it's good to give back a bit. Plus, it can be a laugh on these boards!

A while back I wrote a post with my best tips for new quitters. I hope you don't mind if I paste the link rather than typing it all out again. You might find some of it helpful. If not, just ignore me!

forum.nosmokingday.org.uk/s...

[nsd_user663_7276]

Helsbelles, Thank you. I have just read your post that you linked to, and I can't tell you how much hope it is giving me. Thank you so much.

[nsd_user663_44684]

Hi Craig & welcome to the forum, well done on giving up again - i'm on my 6th & final attempt - I had a sore throat when I gave up 6 weeks ago & it really helped to make the first week easier & then it's just a matter of if you can do one week you can do another

Longest i've gone is 4 months so I need to get past that then i'll have cracked it, but I feel a lot more determined this time too so that's helping...

Good luck & keep going, remember you're only one drag away from a pack a day so even when you're desperate don't give in - nobody ever died from a craving!!

Denise x